Lesson 2: Making Inferences

🟦 Introduction
Have you ever watched a movie and guessed what would happen next—without anyone telling you? That’s called inferring. In reading comprehension, making inferences means reading between the lines—figuring out what the writer implies rather than says directly.

In WASSCE, this is a high-level skill. The passage might not say something openly, but you must use clues in the text and your understanding of the world to reach a logical conclusion. This lesson will help you build that skill.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What is an Inference?

An inference is a conclusion you draw from evidence and reasoning—not from a direct statement.

🧠 Think of it as:
What is the passage suggesting without saying it clearly?

💬 For example:
Text: “Yaw’s hands trembled as he looked at the exam paper. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.”
Inference: Yaw is nervous or scared.

2. Difference Between Fact and Inference

3. Types of Inference Questions You May Face

• Character feelings or motivations: “How does the character feel?”

• Predicting outcomes: “What will likely happen next?”

• Understanding cause and effect: “Why did the event happen?”

• Drawing conclusions: “What can be implied about the situation?”

📌 Question Stems to Watch For:

• “What can be inferred…?”

• “Why do you think…?”

• “Suggest a reason why…”

• “Which of the following is most likely…?”

4. How to Make Accurate Inferences

✔ Step 1: Read carefully – Look for clues like actions, tone, or events.
✔ Step 2: Ask yourself questions – Why did the person say/do this? What does this word choice suggest?
✔ Step 3: Use background knowledge – What do I know about real-life situations like this?

📝 TIP: Good inferences are based on text + logic, not wild guesses.

🧭 Step-by-Step Sample Walkthrough

Sample Passage:
Ama closed her notebook without writing anything. She stared out the window for several minutes, then laid her head on the desk. When the bell rang, she didn’t move.

Question: What can be inferred about Ama?
Answer: She is likely sad, distracted, or unmotivated.

Explanation: The passage does not say she is sad, but her actions (not writing, staring, staying still) suggest it. That’s inference.

🟨 Practice Exercises

🔹 Exercise A: Making Inferences

Excerpt:
The streets were unusually quiet. Shops remained closed, and children who usually played outside were nowhere to be seen. Mr. Adjei locked his gate twice before going back inside.

Questions:

1. What is the mood or situation in the town?

2. Why might Mr. Adjei double-lock his gate?

3. What could be inferred about the children?

✅ Answers:

1. The town is likely under threat or experiencing tension (e.g., fear or danger).

2. He feels unsafe or cautious.

3. The children have been kept indoors for safety.

🔹 Exercise B: Inference from Dialogue

Dialogue:
“You’re wearing that again?” Nana said, raising an eyebrow. Kojo looked down and muttered, “It’s the only clean shirt I have.”

Questions:

1. What is Nana likely feeling?

2. What can we infer about Kojo’s situation?

✅ Answers:

1. Disapproval or surprise.

2. Kojo might be facing poverty or lack of resources.

🔁 Recap

In this lesson, you learned that:

• Inference means reading between the lines.

• You use clues in the passage + your own reasoning to figure out what’s not directly stated.

• Inference questions test your ability to understand mood, emotions, and causes.

• Always support your inference with details from the passage.

🪞 Reflection Prompt
Think of a time when someone didn’t say how they were feeling—but you just knew. How did you figure it out? What clues gave it away? How does that experience help you make better inferences when reading?